New report illustrates failure of Melbourne bus network

by JAMES POYNER
22nd June 2026

AN AUDIT by the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office (VAGO) into Victoria’s Bus Plan has revealed that the Government is unlikely to meet its 2031 targets if development continues at its current rate.
The report’s key findings on the Bus Plan’s objective to make the public transport network an effective mass transit network states:

“The Bus Plan sets clear objectives to make the bus network simpler, faster and more reliable.
It identified Melbourne’s large and complex bus network as a challenge to attracting bus passengers.
Small changes over time mean that many routes may not have a clear purpose or serve a distinct travel need.
The Bus Plan recognises that Melbourne’s population growth in outer metropolitan areas will create new demand for transport in more locations.
But our analysis of the network found that the improvement rate to the current network design and service coverage is not consistent with that ambition.
This is particularly the case for outer metropolitan and high-growth communities.”

The Outer Melbourne Councils group — which Nillumbik is a member of — says the VAGO report Improving Bus Services (2026) confirms that outer suburban communities are being consistently underserved by an outdated and unreliable bus network.
OMC Chair Cr Stefan Koomen said the findings reflect what councils and communities have been raising for years.

“VAGO has confirmed what our residents experience every day: the bus network in outer Melbourne is not keeping up with the needs of our growing suburbs.
“Families shouldn’t have to plan their entire day around a bus that only comes twice an hour. This report shows the real-world impact of slow reform and underinvestment.”

Part of OMC’s advocacy for the 2026 State Election is $250 million towards the expansion of bus networks in outer Melbourne Council areas.
This includes rural buses for St Andrews and Arthurs Creek.
OMC is calling on the Victorian Government to adopt VAGO’s recommendations in full and prioritise investment in Melbourne’s outer suburbs.
This includes more frequent and direct routes, seven-day services, bus priority infrastructure, better performance monitoring, and stronger integration with land use planning.

“This report gives the government a clear roadmap.
“What we need now is action,”
“Outer Melbourne residents deserve a modern, reliable bus network — until then, families will keep paying the price through higher fuel costs, longer commutes and difficulty accessing jobs and services.”

OMC’s advocacy complements advocacy by the Eastern Region Group (ERG) of Councils, of which Manningham is a member.
OMC’s and ERG’s advocacy for better buses demonstrates that while there is a big focus on the North East Link corridor and the Suburban Rail Loop, for many, buses are the best, or only, public transport option available.